Petronas has filed reports with the relevant agencies regarding a posting on a website which it claimed contained malicious allegations.

“Petronas wishes to state in the strongest terms that the allegations are unsubstantiated and untrue.

"Petronas maintains the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency in all our business dealings and we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who continues to malign the reputation and integrity of the company or its people,” it said in a statement today.

Petronas added that it would leave the matter to the authorities to take further action.

Although Petronas did not mention the name of the website, a check by Malaysiakini revealed that Sabahkini2.com had made serious allegations against Petronas and implicated a former Umno division leader in a posting yesterday.

The Edge also reported that Sabahkini2.com had queried whether it is true that certain companies received preferential treatment from Petronas as long as there were scandalous relationships and bribes involved.

Sabahkini2.com alleged that a particular firm received preferential treatment from Petronas.

The Edge said the firm has not responded to the allegations.

The former Umno division leader is the independent non-executive chairperson of the firm.

Last September, the former vocal Umno leader, who often defended Najib Abdul Razak when the latter was prime minister, left the party, citing that he wanted to “safeguard the survival of the Malays in the Federal Territory.”

However, the Sabahkini2.com article claimed that he had done so to ensure his “personal survival”.

Malaysiakini is contacting the former Umno leader for comment.